Mika Brzezinski Sorry for Russell Brand Interview on MSNBC

"Morning Joe" host Mika Brzezinski knows Russell Brand Now. The MSNBC host said she wasn't familiar with the comedian before his uncomfortable appearance on the show earlier this week and apologized for that.

Brand visited the set of the MSNBC program to discuss his "Messiah Complex" comedy tour — which has just canceled its stop in the Middle East over concerns regarding Brand's safety — with Brzezinski and panelists Katty Kay and Brian Shactman. It didn't appear any of them were very familiar with his work.

Brzezinski introduced the British comedian on Monday's program by saying, "Joining me now, he's a really big deal. I'm told this."

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The segment turned into a podium to for Brand to attack the vanilla morning-show format throughout television, where talking heads rarely discuss anything of substance, in Brand's view.

Toward the end of the segment, Brand offered an example of how the morning shows could discuss more important issues, suggesting meaty topics as Edward Snowden's whistleblowing.

When he put the "Morning Joe" team on the spot, Shactman awkwardly tried to re-direct the conversation to discussing how he should mimic Brand's fashion.

"Look beyond the superficial," Brand said in response. "That's the problem with current affairs."

At one point, Shactman also mocked Brand's accent, and the comedian responded accordingly.

Harsh reaction to Brand's appearance came quickly, with people calling the "Morning Joe" crew "stupid," "unimaginably rude," and "unprofessional," according to UPI.

Brzezinski was shocked by the level of anger directed toward her, and apologized Friday.

"People come in here one after the other," she said on Friday's program. "I didn't know Russell before the show. I don't think Russell liked that. I have never gotten more vitriol and anger and hatred than I have over this," she added. "So I apologize for not knowing."

Brzezinski said the day Brand appeard had been "a long day" full of interviews.

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